Check system requirements

  • Operating Systems: macOS 10.15+, Ubuntu 20.04+/Debian 10+, or Windows via WSL
  • Hardware: 4GB RAM minimum
  • Software:
    • Node.js 18+
    • git 2.23+ (optional)
    • GitHub or GitLab CLI for PR workflows (optional)
    • ripgrep (rg) for enhanced file search (optional)
  • Network: Internet connection required for authentication and AI processing
  • Location: Available only in supported countries

Troubleshooting WSL installation

Currently, Claude Code does not run directly in Windows, and instead requires WSL. If you encounter issues in WSL:

  1. OS/platform detection issues: If you receive an error during installation, WSL may be using Windows npm. Try:

    • Run npm config set os linux before installation
    • Install with npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code --force --no-os-check (Do NOT use sudo)
  2. Node not found errors: If you see exec: node: not found when running claude, your WSL environment may be using a Windows installation of Node.js. You can confirm this with which npm and which node, which should point to Linux paths starting with /usr/ rather than /mnt/c/. To fix this, try installing Node via your Linux distribution’s package manager or via nvm.

Install and authenticate

1

Install Claude Code

Install NodeJS 18+, then run:

npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code

Do NOT use sudo npm install -g as this can lead to permission issues and security risks. If you encounter permission errors, see configure Claude Code for recommended solutions.

2

Navigate to your project

cd your-project-directory 
3

Start Claude Code

claude
4

Complete authentication

Claude Code offers multiple authentication options:

  1. Anthropic Console: The default option. Connect through the Anthropic Console and complete the OAuth process. Requires active billing at console.anthropic.com.
  2. Claude App (with Max plan): Subscribe to Claude’s Max plan for a single subscription that includes both Claude Code and the web interface. Get more value at the same price point while managing your account in one place. Log in with your Claude.ai account. During launch, choose the option that matches your subscription type.
  3. Enterprise platforms: Configure Claude Code to use Amazon Bedrock or Google Vertex AI for enterprise deployments with your existing cloud infrastructure.

Initialize your project

For first-time users, we recommend:

1

Start Claude Code

claude
2

Run a simple command

summarize this project
3

Generate a CLAUDE.md project guide

/init 
4

Commit the generated CLAUDE.md file

Ask Claude to commit the generated CLAUDE.md file to your repository.

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